Nagasaki prefecture

**Nagasaki prefecture (長崎県)**
Symbols
Nagasaki prefectural symbol
Capital	Nagasaki
Region:	Kyushu
Island:	Kyushu
Area - Total - % water	Ranked 37th 4,092.80 km² 8.5%
Population - Total (2000) - Density	Ranked 26nd 1,516,536 371/km²
Districts:	9
Municipalities:	79
ISO 3166-2:	JP-42
Pref. Flower:	Unzentsutsuji (Rhododendron serpyllifolium)
Pref. Tree:	Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera)
Pref. Bird:	Mandarin duck (Aix galericulata)

Nagasaki prefecture (長崎県; Nagasaki-ken) is located on Kyushu island, Japan. The capital is the city of Nagasaki.

[Top]

History

Nagasaki Prefecture has had close ties with foreign civilization for centuries. During the 16th century, Catholic missionaries and traders from Portugal arrived and became active in Hirado and Nagasaki. After the prohibition of Christianity in the Edo period, foreign trade was restricted to Chinese and Dutch traders in Nagasaki, but Christianity continued underground. Today, Nagasaki has a prominent Chinatown and Catholic churches.

[Top]